[wmgeorge]

I've switched and I have yet to find a benefit in switching. I switched because my unit is only a couple months old and Avid is helping me troubleshoot some THC issues. They wanted to rule out Mach3. According to Avid, Mach 4 works better with Plasma.

Mach3 has a couple of gotca things going on and sometimes unexplained dives, you may not have had those issues. Mach4 is much smoother in operation and professional.

[DHaughs]

Mach3 has a couple of gotca things going on and sometimes unexplained dives, you may not have had those issues. Mach4 is much smoother in operation and professional.

The biggest differences I have found that affect me are on the plasma side. Significant upgrades for THC. But I haven't found any issues with Mach3 for the spindle. Keep in mind my point of reference is coming from a $2k hobby grade machine using a trim router

You've had unexplained dives in Mach3 with your spindle/router?

[wmgeorge]

T

You've had unexplained dives in Mach3 with your spindle/router?

It turns out in M3 if you just STOP like in you want to start over, the buffer is not flushed out. When you restart, even after a re-zero it still starts to run that gcode buffer out. Yes there is a way to clear out that buffer.... but you need to remember. Mach4 seems to do for you.

[DHaughs]

It turns out in M3 if you just STOP like in you want to start over, the buffer is not flushed out. When you restart, even after a re-zero it still starts to run that gcode buffer out. Yes there is a way to clear out that buffer.... but you need to remember. Mach4 seems to do for you.

Interesting. I haven't seen that. Could be because I generally reload the gcode when I want to start over. I've actually had some funny business in Mach4 with this and my plasma torch firing. I've stopped programs or had an e-stop (battling through some interference issues) then I've clicked the "rewind g-code" button and then my torch will fire a second or two after. But if I close the gcode and load it again I don't have this issue. I haven't done much routing in Mach4.

[wmgeorge]

If your using Warp9 ESS I may be wrong but I think they just released a new THC module or plug in. Mach3 did the dive two times on me before I figured it out. You Stop the program and decide to Restart after re-zeroing and bingo it buries your router bit in the spoil board and I don't think its an ESS thing because Mach4 works just fine after I do the Restart.

[wmgeorge]

Interesting. I haven't seen that. Could be because I generally reload the gcode when I want to start over. I've actually had some funny business in Mach4 with this and my plasma torch firing. I've stopped programs or had an e-stop (battling through some interference issues) then I've clicked the "rewind g-code" button and then my torch will fire a second or two after. But if I close the gcode and load it again I don't have this issue. I haven't done much routing in Mach4.

I'm not the only one with this reported issue, all have been Mach3 users, never M4.
So now I have two reminders, holes burnt/milled into my spoil board to remind me.